Journal Article

Enhancing refereeing skills: exploring the influence of an Android table tennis app on student referees

Fahmi, Mhd, Hasibuan, Nurman, Kasih, Indra, Faridah, Eva, Siregar, Samsuddin, Pardilla, Herli

2025

Overview

Objective: The role of referees in table tennis is crucial for ensuring fair play and proper game management. Traditional training methods for referees face challenges in keeping up with the increasing pace and complexity of modern table tennis matches. Objective to evaluate the impact of the Android Table Tennis Application (ATTA) on enhancing referee competence. Methodology: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with 30 student participants divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group used ATTA for training while the control group received traditional instruction. Both groups were assessed through pre-tests and post-tests to measure their understanding of officiating principles and practical refereeing skills. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement, with mean learning outcomes increasing from 73.9 to 90.0 (16-point increase). The control group's scores improved from 74.0 to 83.0 (9-point increase). Statistical analysis using paired sample t-tests showed a p-value <0.001, indicating significant differences between pre- and post-test results. Discussion: The ATTA facilitates a deeper understanding of table tennis principles and standards while enhancing adjudicative skills in a simulated environment. Conclusions: The Android Table Tennis Application proved to be an effective tool for enhancing referee training outcomes. The interactive and comprehensive nature of ATTA, combined with its accessibility and convenience, resulted in better learning outcomes compared to traditional teaching methods. The findings suggest that educational institutions should consider implementing ATTA to improve table tennis officiating education.

• Publisher: Federación Española de Docentes de Educación Física (FEADEF)
• Subject: android table tennis app / aplicaciones educativas móviles / aplicación android de tenis de mesa / aplicação de ténis para tablet Android / aplicações educativas móveis / arbitraje de tenis de mesa / Control Groups / Conventional Instruction / desarrollo de competencias de árbitros / desenvolvimento de competências de árbitro / Educational objectives / Experimental Groups / mobile educational applications / Outcomes of Education / Quasiexperimental Design / referee competency development / reglas de tenis de mesa / regras do ténis de mesa / Table tennis / table tennis refereeing / table tennis rules / Teaching Methods / Training Methods / Árbitro de ténis de mesa